SEE: Inside Mbokodo Awards New York event

2017-10-09 12:29

Hloni Magadla

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PIC: Supplied (Carol Bouwer Productions)

The Mbokodo Awards founded by South African businesswoman Carol Bouwer, are moving boundaries all over the globe.

The awards which were launched in 2012 at the Soweto Theatre are aimed at honouring talented South African women whose work has had great influence on the evolution of our society. Powerful women such as Thandi Klaasen, Esther Mahlangu, Sibongile Khumalo, Nadine Girdimer and the late Miriam Makeba have been celebrated by The Mbokodos over the past 5 years.

Apart from hosting their annual award ceremonies, The Mbokodos are set on being a platform that advances the emancipation of women across all facets of their everyday life by advocating work in society. In their efforts to do so, the Mboko Awards hosted a breakfast on the 25th of September on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly with former South-African deputy president, Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

Challenges affecting women from country to country across the world, initiatives that have been implemented in various countries to advance women emancipation; UN programmes , instruments of engagement that are geared towards gender equality as well as the innovative UNstereotype campaign were some of the many issues that Dr Mlambo-Ngcuka who has recently been re-appointed as UN Under-Secretary, Executive Director for Women, reflected on.

Founder of The Mbokodo Awards took the chance to share her own story of her experiences with Mlambo-Ngcuka before honouring and thanking her. “In you we see that our dreams are valid, your rise validates our ambitions and our dreams for young girls who may not come from a lot but wish to BE much! We today stand in solidarity with the world to salute you and honour you as a leader", she said to roaring applause.